The addition of a taxane to an anthracycline-based regimen improves the DFS and OS of high-risk EBC patients. The DFS benefit was independent of ER expression, degree of nodal involvement, type of taxane, age/menopausal status of patient, and administration schedule.

Background: There are few background data on the impact of clinical factors on neurotoxicity and prognosis in patients treated with adjuvant capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) chemotherapy. Methods: 102 stage II high-risk and stage III colorectal cancer patients were treated for 6 months with adjuvant CAPOX, then they were followed up. Associations between clinical variables, metabolic syndrome components, smoking and neurotoxicity were evaluated by the χ² test. The Kaplan-Meier product limit method was applied to graph disease-free survival (DFS). Univariate analysis was done with the log-rank test. Cox's proportional hazards regression was used to analyze the effect of several risk factors on DFS. Results: Significant associations were found between diabetes (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.01) and the occurrence of chronic neurotoxicity. After a median follow-up of 46 months, 14 patients (13.7%) had suffered recurrence. An analysis of the prognostic factors for DFS showed that prognosis is unfavorable for patients with high lymph-nodal involvement (HR: 5.23, p = 0.0007), diabetes (HR: 4.86; p = 0.03) and a BMI ≥25 (HR: 3.69, p = 0.002). Discussion: Common mediators in diabetes and obesity could be involved in peripheral neuropathy and in stimulating micro-metastases. Further studies are necessary to explain this interesting connection between diabetes, obesity and colon cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a complex disease linked to a series of environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyle habits, and especially to genetic alterations. GC represents the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Its onset is subtle, and the majority of patients are diagnosed once the cancer is already advanced. In recent years, there have been innovations in the management of advanced GC including the introduction of new classifications based on its molecular characteristics. Thanks to new technologies such as next-generation sequencing and microarray, the Cancer Genome Atlas and Asian Cancer Research Group classifications have also paved the way for precision medicine in GC, making it possible to integrate diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Among the objectives of the subdivision of GC into subtypes is to select patients in whom molecular targeted drugs can achieve the best results; many lines of research have been initiated to this end. After phase III clinical trials, trastuzumab, anti-Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (commonly known as ERBB2) and ramucirumab, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (commonly known as VEGFR2) monoclonal antibodies, were approved and introduced into first- and second-line therapies for patients with advanced/metastatic GC. However, the heterogeneity of this neoplasia makes the practical application of such approaches difficult. Unfortunately, scientific progress has not been matched by progress in clinical practice in terms of significant improvements in prognosis. Survival continues to be low in contrast to the reduction in deaths from many common cancers such as colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Although several target molecules have been identified on which targeted drugs can act and novel products have been introduced into experimental therapeutic protocols, the overall approach to treating advanced stage GC has not substantially changed. Currently, surgical resection with adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the most effective treatments for this disease. Future research should not underestimate the heterogeneity of GC when developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies aimed toward improving patient survival.

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Today, we are experiencing a real cultural revolution in the therapeutic approach to cancer of the colon - rectum, that by orphan disease, it is now becoming an important paradigm of scientific innovations and concepts. Survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (m-CRC) has been significantly improved with the introduction of the monoclonal antibodies that have as target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in cancer is implicated in tumors escaping immune destruction. This pathway is up -regulated in many tumours. Blockade of this pathway with anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 agents has led to remarkable clinical responses in patients affected by many different types of cancer. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effects of addiction of biological agents to standard chemotherapy in the treatment of m-CRC. We can say that, among the various treatment options, the challenge of the future will be a better selection of the population, to ensure the best possible benefit from treatment with anti-VEGF drugs or anti-EGFR and a careful and customized planning of the therapeutic strategy for each patient.